Regent Law's Wealth Management and Financial Planning Program Renewed

Regent University launched its M.A. in Law program in the fall of 2014. A year later, Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson saw the need for a Wealth Management and Financial Planning Concentration and it was added to the program. Regent Law is happy to announce that the Wealth Management and Financial Planning program has been renewed for two years by the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Board of Standards. The board commended the diversity in Regent’s program, calling it “an important area of emphasis for the CFP Board and the profession in general.”

The M.A. in Law with a Wealth Management and Financial Planning Concentration currently consists of 30 credit hours and covers the 72 topics required for all CFP Board-registered programs. Graduates of Regent’s program are eligible to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination.

This program was developed a bit more than 2 years ago when Dr. Robertson realized that as our population ages, there is an increased need for quality, principled leadership by well-educated individuals to help with wealth transfer. Financial planners enjoy the opportunity of helping their clients achieve their life goals by offering assistance regarding wise use of money and financial planning so they can afford to purchase a home, if desired, educate their children, be able to retire at the desired age, and be sufficiently insured or otherwise prepared to survive life events that potentially could cause financial crisis. Regent’s program also opens the door for careers such as Certified Financial Planner®, Wealth Management Advisor, Trust Officer, and Investment Manager.

Ian Lawrence

Current M.A. in Law student Ian Lawrence is pursuing a Master of Arts in Law with a concentration in Wealth Management and Financial Planning and plans to graduate May 2018. Ian attended both on-campus and online classes to help balance his family and work while still pursuing his degree. “I have a wife and two young kids and I work full-time so it's definitely a challenge.” Ian tries to block out times in the evening and on weekends for the program. Ian recommends having a strong interest in wealth management and financial planning for those considering taking on such a degree, and an idea of where you want to go with the degree afterward. "It's also helpful to have some knowledge and experience in business and finance in addition to the strong interest in financial planning," he says.

Janis Kirkland

Janis Kirkland, the Director of Regent Law’s Wealth Management & Financial Planning concentration, believes that now is the perfect time for students to pursue this type of M.A. in Law: “In this economy, wealth management and financial planning is especially important,” she says. “The baby-boomer generation is reaching retirement age. We need competent and ethical advice about how to best prepare for retirement and manage our resources so they will sustain us throughout our old age. Younger individuals and families need financial guidance as well. They need to be prepared to survive economic downturns, to educate their children, and to prepare for their own retirement.”

For more information about Regent Law’s wealth management & financial planning degree or any of the school’s new Master of Arts concentrations, call 877.267.5072 or visit regent.edu/law.